Sport: Alba, Messi's best partner and one of barcelona's greatest left-backs

According to Mundo Deportivo, the legendary "number 18" and Messi's most effective partner, Alba, is one of Barcelona's best left-backs in history.

Alba made 459 appearances for the first team. This true legend bid farewell to the team at the end of the 2022/23 season, moving to Inter Miami CF.

Jordi Alba played under nine different coaches at Camp Nou, but each one kept him as a regular starter. However, in the early stages of his career, he faced fierce competition with Adriano for the left-back position.

After the Brazilian left, Digne, Juan Miranda, Cucurella, Firpo, and now Balde all arrived or were promoted from the reserves, but none could usurp his starting spot. The player from L'Hospitalet continued to rack up appearances and titles, making surging runs down the flank and delivering precise assists. He won 16 trophies in a Barcelona shirt.

He started his journey at Barcelona's academy for seven years before moving to Cornellà at the age of 16. He was then loaned to Nàstic, and it was at Valencia that he made his La Liga debut. A few days before the 2012 European Championship final, his transfer to Barcelona was officially announced, at which point he was already in his tenth season at the club. In that final against Italy, he played and scored a goal, contributing to the championship win.

The final pass has always been his trademark, and his partnership with Messi was a constant for many years. He provided Messi with as many as 25 assists, and Suarez also benefited greatly with 20. The Argentinian and Uruguayan are no longer with the team, but Alba has learned to adapt and continues to provide assists for the forwards. Their chemistry is hard to explain, as if they had known each other their whole lives.

The left-back from L'Hospitalet de Llobregat evolved his playing style after the departure of the two stars. Under Xavi, Alba adapted his game to a system with wide wingers, adjusting his runs forward to be more cautious while taking on more of a central playmaking role. He provided 86 assists in a Barcelona shirt.

Jordi Alba once spoke about his childhood on Mediaset a few years ago: "I saw many parents putting pressure on their children. My parents would only ask me if I was having fun." The left-back, from humble beginnings, first bought a car for his father. "He used to drive down from Valencia every four days to see me, until one day he collided with a truck and his car was wrecked. I told him a package from my brand would be delivered to him, and he rushed to L'Hospitalet to receive the car. He couldn't believe it and cried on the spot."

He has always been a very down-to-earth person and had a good upbringing. His parents and older brother would give him advice. "Mainly about manners. As for football, they let me develop freely, which is very important today. Many parents don't let their children enjoy football. In that regard, I think my parents did an excellent job throughout my career. I also met many good coaches later. I played for L'Hospitalet, but was soon signed by Barcelona, the best academy in the world. There I learned a lot, not just football, but also values. In the academy, learning and behavior come first, then you are a player. I understood that from a young age," he explained to Mundo Deportivo.

After retirement, he remains the same. "I go to the movies, to the mall, eat with friends... If someone asks for a photo, I have no problem," he concluded.